Sunday Happy

If you were not stupid hot this past week well then weren't you just the luckiest one. Me, I was on the verge of a god damn breakdown. SO hot and humid for so long, I seriously was losing my shit. But I am better now because the heat wave broke and I can move, breath, and think again. And what I am thinking is that summer should be over and I am 100% ready fall.

Beside the heat wave almost killing me and making me the most miserable and bitchy person in the world, the week was great. It started off with family hoopla up in Belvedere. My Dad was here, the cousins, and most of the siblings. We ran around, talked and yelled, complained about this and that, and laughed at the expense of each other. Then the mr and I, with the help of the littles, set up our tent in the field and when were were overly exhausted that night, we crawled into then tent for a little shut eye. ( I barely slept because the tent was set up by the littles and they placed in on a weird incline so I was like rolling around all night.) The next morning I woke up early and took a walk to the river with Megan, drank all of Dads coffee, packed up the tent wit the mr, and then half of us went for a long ass bike ride. By the time we were finished, I was finished and it was starting to get really hot. It was a great couple of days and it was time to go home.

And then it got even hotter and more humid. A freaking heatwave. So I did what I could to not melt or kill someone. I spent most of my time either working in the basement or laying on the kitchen floor. I dis go on a little hike by the lake with the Mr, Megan and So thinking it might be a little cooler (it was not) and then had all the littles over for an afternoon of popsicles, ice cream, and sprinkler action, but ther then that I can’t really think of to much else that was done because well my brain was fried.

But then it rained yesterday. Really hard really fast and the heat broke. Thank fucking god because I could take it anymore. So even though I spent most of the day doing chores, cutting hair, and freaking out about stupid things, I was much better then I had been all week.

I am excited for today. I am not sure if it is because we are tossing the camping shit into the car and getting out of here or if it because it is only suppose to get into the mid 70’s and with no humidity. Either one, I am here and happy for it! A day of kayaking and hiking and sleeping outside. The good stuff.

Internet from the week

-July Was The Hottest Month In Recorded Human History. Yes and now we are fucked.

-Has This Summer Felt Off to Anyone Else?, One hundred percent yes.

-Antivaxers Think Their ‘Pure’ Semen Will Skyrocket in Value. Wow. Wow, wow wow.

-One of the nephews ins moving into a dorm for the first time and let me tell you, his mama is losing her shit and buying it all. Also, his dorm is five minutes from his house and around the corner from a store if he needed to get anything. The college dorm shopping industrial complex is real

-A Great British Spraycation.

-Where there is a risk for fire well it is a no brainer. It’s Time to Cancel Campfires

-Cake season is coming upon us, especially me. At least 2 birthday cakes a month for the next 8 months! Cake Is Hard—Here Are 7 Pro Tips to Make Cake Baking Easier

-This is exactly where I should live. Completely in love. The Soot House: Conjuring the Ghosts of Old New England on Spruce Head in Maine

-Don’t Throw Out Your Olive Brine!. I always use olive brine to splash on veggies. It is delicious. Don’t Throw Out Your Olive Brine!

-Ducks, Otters, and Other Wildlife Plunge into Water in Intricate Split-View Embroideries. I want these, they are so fantastic.

Pictures from the week.

Sunday Happy

I am ready, ready for summer to be over. It was so nice for a few days. Not hot, cool nights, but then it started to get hot again and I started to get real bitchy again so yeah, done with it. Plus I am really craving apples. 🍎🍏🍎

We had a good start to the week with a great camp adventure. Sure it rained a whole bunch but we knew that going in so we were prepared. Rain jackets, a canopy to put over the picnic tables, extra clothes. And really, most of the day it wasn’t pouring to badly and hiking around in the woods, the rain doesn’t get you ad bad. We did decide not to bring the kayaks because I wasn’t feeling lightning and water, but hey, that is just me. And we were able to have a nice big warm fire after dinner thanks to the mr been smart and good with flames and wood. It was great and perfect timing too because once we crawled into the tent for the night, well that was when the rain really started to come down. But again, no worries, we started dry.

And we woke up, still a little rain coming down, made coffee, tossed everything into the car and headed back to the rest of the week.

What did we do? Nothing much different then all the rest if the weeks. Hung with Barb, Had the littles over for food and play and then had a girls afternoon where Barb, Miley, and I made cookies and cakes for the upcoming weekend. I have been harvesting lots of goodies from the garden, pickling and freezing all the zucchini, and watching my pumpkin rapidly grow bigger and bigger. I thew some pots, but things have been drying really slow so that means studio stuff slows down too. And thats about sums it up I guess.

Today is the annual Stem family get together. (We didi’t do it last year cause, well you know.) After I spend the morning doing some chores we are heading up to Belvedere to the cabin and hanging with my people. Camping there too. I am really excited to see my family, see the Dad, and also see them in the comforts of the woods in the middle of nowhere so I can run away if need be. And its great that we have camping built in to the day. It is one of my favorite places to camp so it will be good, even if it is suppose to thunderstorm all afternoon. We are getting use to camping in the rain.

Internet from the week

-August 8 Is One Of The Luckiest Days Of The Year. And it’s today! So should I play the lottery?

-Summertime And Vacationing Isn't Easy. Blame It On Climate Change. And blame that on humans.

-Basically the only time I wear a bra is when I am running and that is only because I don’t have pockets in my shorts to shove my phone into it (in the winter I have pockets so no need for the bra). It acts more like a pocket than anything else. HA! Why So Many Women Are Turning Their Backs On The Bra

-Yes to all of these. Designers on Holiday: Modern, Minimalist Tents, Cabins, Guest Houses, and More

-We Tried 9 Ways to Shuck Corn (and Really Get the Silk Off!) and Found a Clear Winner. How do you shuck corn? And does the silk really bother you? I don’t care if there is a few strands but that is me.

-I take a lot of pictures but I also don’t take a lot of pictures. Sometime I just don’t want to it is going to interferes with me being present. To Remember The Moment, Try Taking Fewer Photos

-Homeownership can bring out the worst in you. There is a lot to think about when owning a home.

-Just like antibacterial shit, hand sanitizer kits the bad and the good. You might be overusing hand sanitizer

--A Serendipitous Photo Captures an Acrobatic Goose Contorting Its Body to Fly Upside Down

Pictures from the week

Sunday Happy

Happy August! Best month of the summer because it is starting to feel cooler out at times (Yay for morning sweaters!!), the tomatoes and eggplants are growing with vigor, and well, it means summer is coming to an end and fall will be here soon. Whoop whoop!

The week went. We stared with a sunny camp day. Took the kayaks out, set up the tent, went for a hike, and while we were out we had a passing rain cloud dumped a ton of rain, while the sky was still blue, all over our camp site. No big deal except we didn't have the rain fly on the tent (again, the sky was blue) so the inside of the of the tent and all of our stuff got soaked and whatever, we dealt with it because that is what you do. Anyway, we dried out as much as we could then sat by the fire, ate camp soup, then crawled into the wet tent. Woke up, tossed it all into the truck and headed out.

Back in town life went on pretty much as usual, although the mr couldn't eat for the entire day (medical test stuff) so he was a real right treat to deal with. But we did the stuff we do and then some. The mr then had his doctors thing the following day and then ate all the food (and stopped being an asshole) so that was good. Beside all that jazz, I had lunch with Barb and hung out with Meg and So. I threw lots of pot, picked a lot of zucchini, and watched as my tower of beans grew to enormous heights. We went on a few more walk, jaunts, and the such and enjoyed the cooler weather as much as we could. And after watching it grow grow grow, my bean tower fell over. The weight of it snapped one of the sticks so the mr and I had to rig it up with rope and more wood. It is the craziest my beans have ever gotten.

Yesterday, spur of the moment, the mr and I dragged a tired little Coco out for ice cream. We tossed him in a wagon, walked to town, ordered him a cone, and held his hair back while he silently and intensely ate it. Then the sugar kicked in and he was wagon surfing all the way home. Highlight of the week. HA!

Today after a few morning chores we are heading out again. It is suppose to rain all afternoon and night so we are going into camping prepared for it. (Gonna set up the rain fly asap!). I have no problem hiking and playing in the rain but I am not a big fan of being drenched while sleeping. Hopefully it isn’t a complete washout!

Internet from the week.

-When Masks Become Trash. I live in a relatively clean state and I still see masks all over the place. It pisses me off a whole lot.

-I guess I am a super hero cause I sweat A LOT. Why Sweat Is A Human Superpower

-30 Things You Should Know About Veggies by the Time You’re 30. Veggie knowledge to know at any age.

-How Big Beverage poured empty promises down our throats. So much liquid in so many bottles! I sometimes feel guilty about buying seltzer now and then. But that is all I will buy. All those crazy drinks, I don’t get it.

-If the Hardiest Species Are Boiled Alive, What Happens to Humans? I count myself a lucky one. Here in Vt we haven’t had the crazy heat like the rest if the country. I don’t think, no I know I couldn’t handle it. Shit is real friends and that shit is bad.

-If I were to win an Olympic medal I think bronze would be the one I would want to win. Top three but don’t have to worry about always being the #1 or the one that was almost #1. Yeah, bronze seems good. Why Bronze Medalists Are Likely Happier Than Those Who Win Silver

-Spending a lot of time planning for a trip here!

-Who Actually Buys a Gold Toilet?. You ask me ans I would say an asshole.

-Thousands of Fresh and Artificial Flowers Overrun an Abandoned Convenience Store in a Small Michigan Town. 😁

Pictures from the week

Sunday Happy

We are in the thick of it, the middle of summer. And for some reason I have yet to really feel any real summery vibe, if that makes any sense. I don’t know what it is. I am hot as hell, outside more then in, running around with little to no clothing on and have the dirtiest feet, eating all the summer veggies, and living all the summertime adventures. And yet something, some feeling that I usually feel is yet to be had. Huh. I guess there is still time but to be honest, I am already wishful for fall. (I am and will always be that person.)

The week was good. Started off with soggy camping in the Groton State Forest. Went kayaking then hiking, and then set up camp, all in a light rain. It wasn’t down pouring but everything was wet. We did out best drying out by the fire and by the time we both ate our camp lentil stew and climbed into the tent to sleep, we assed out. Then we woke up, made the coffee, busted down camp, then headed back home.

And the rest of the week flew by. Beside the the usual we took a couple of smaller hikes. I picked up farm share which is now starting to really amp up (giant tomatoes!). I picked flowers and lots of turnips from the garden and spent a lot of time hanging with Megan and So. I got pooped on by a bird and developed a gigantic blood blister on my ding-a-ling thing in my throat (uvula ?) which was gross and unnecessary. And then at the end of the week we took a long drive south to the Vermont Ceramic Store and got me 250 lbs of clay (should keep me busy for a little while). All in all, a busy, satisfying, got shit done, week.

And we are back to Sunday and back to our camping schedule. We have 2 state parks to choose from so not exactly sure where we will end up. All I know is that I have been looking forward to getting back out in the tent since we packed it up last Monday. I always wonder why we come home. I am meant to live in the woods.

Internet from the week.

-Just Say No to Peat: It’s Time to Rethink the Compost and Soil You Buy. Seriously.

-This is freaking awesome and I will be visiting it! A Skywalk Just Opened Up That Goes 100 Feet Above the Sequoia Redwoods

-Addison County Is Now Home To The Largest Anaerobic Digester In The Northeast. So How Does It Work? Fuel from poop! Vermont Proud!

-DIY Tiny Cabin on Wheels. This is one of those towable cabins that actually makes sense.

-Ask anyone that comes through my doors. Shoes off before entering or I will flip the F out! Please Don’t Wear Your Outdoor Shoes Inside My Home

-I might actually have the opposite problem….I can never find my phone. HA! But I know more people then not (just about everyone) that have this problem. Glued To Your Phone? Here's How To Rethink Your Relationship With Social Media

-If I am not into a book within the first chapter, I move on. Sometime I go back if I think it was just a wrong book, wrong time situation. But if it just seemed like shitty writing, well I’m a not gonna read it. There are far too many books that I need to read to waste my time. 6 Reasons It’s Totally OK to Give Up on a Book, According to Librarians and Podcasters

-That is a lot of words. From “5G” to “Zaddy”: Dictionary.com Adds Over 300 New Words And Definitions

-Hey You! Freeze Those Summer Green Beans. I usually get a bag or two but I have a hard time not eating them all before I get a chacne to freeze them.-

Pictures from the week.

Sunday Happy

It has definitely been one of those weeks that just blew on through. I feel like we just got home from our weekend away in Maine but it’s been almost a week. It’s that mid summer vibe I guess.

So yeah, we started the week off in Maine. We drove up (or over?) the few hours and pitched the tent on Megan and the fams campsite, right behind her camper and next to the trees. It wasn’t our usual jam but not a bad place. And it really didn't matter because we were barely there. We spent most of our time exploring light houses, state parks, eating Dairy Queen (them, not me) and playing on the ocean beach. It was a fast, super fun trip. Best part was probably when the mr brought So into a giant candy store and she came out with bubbles gum tape. (remember that shit? Freaking loved it!) . Once she starting chewing it, her face lit up and she said it was the best tasting gum she had ever had AND it felt like a blanket on her tongue. And now tongue blankets are a thing.

Once we were home (we drove through the night due to heavy rains. (We didn't feel like waking up soaking wet in tent.) Once home we both kind of crashed, although the mr went on right to work. He spent the rest of the week finishing up a custom shelving job at a local pizza place. Me, I spent a good chunk of time in the studio woking on more mugs, feeding Megans cat, harvesting all the zucchini, electrocuting myself(yikes!) and thinking about back to school supplies. We also had the boys over for an evening of spaghetti eating and volley ball playing in the rain. Nothing better then playing in the rain.

Today is going to be good, if not a bit wet. The mr and I are packed and ready to go. Camping season has begun! Which state park? Well it will be the one that we can get a site in because it seems that a lot of the campgrounds are damn near full. I am not going to complain about it yet, but I really hope that we find a good spot away from all the people. I just want to in the trees, alone and quite. Is that to much to ask for? Maybe but thats ok, I’ll ask anyway. Plus its raining so hopefully that drives some people away. (I am an asshole.) Wish us luck!

Internet from the week.

-I think this is where I should live now. A Young Couple’s DIY, Totally Off-the-Grid Cabin in the New Hampshire Woods

-Why do we buy what we buy? I am just glad that buy nothing. Expect food, but I buy that to eat.

-The Complicated Future of the Handshake. I am not a fan of shaking hands or anybody touching me ever, special occasion of not.

-The bizarre botany that makes corn a fruit, a grain, and also (kind of) a vegetable

-This drives me nuts! An Explosion In Visitors Is Threatening The Very Things National Parks Try To Protect.

-The lie of “expired” food and the disastrous truth of America’s food waste problem. Haven't people learned yet that “expired” is bullshit?

-Do Different Colors of the Same Vegetable Have the Same Nutrients?

-I have noticed, have you? Luckily I don’t really buy much that comes packaged. Beware Of 'Shrinkflation,' Inflation's Devious Cousin

-Here’s Why Every Apartment You’ve Ever Rented Is Painted in “Landlord Off-White”. Ours is a semi gloss mocha white that we do floor to ceiling. but we paint well!. And doing all the apartments one color really helps not go crazy when walls need touch up. No miss matching and I think it looks good!

-The world is crazy so why not? We Regret to Inform You That Van Leeuwen’s Kraft Mac and Cheese Ice Cream Is Very Good

Pictures from the week.